Here’s a twist ... even keeping in mind we had a tropical storm pass across the state a couple of weeks ago.

I believe there’s something to global warming. It only makes logical sense that the more pollutants we put into the atmosphere the more adverse effects they have on our climate. But, could there be a silver lining?

Here’s something to think about.

For all the violent weather the Midwest is experiencing, the weather around these parts seems to be getting milder. Could global warming be the reason we haven’t had a hurricane in five years? Or that our winters aren’t very cold anymore? Granted, we’re dry as a bone in these parts (with the exception of Tropical Storm Andrea recently), and have been that way for probably about as long as we’ve been hurricane-free. But violent weather? ... nah.

Is it simply good luck that we haven’t had a hurricane hit Florida since Ike in 2008 or has global warming altered our weather patterns to such a degree that hurricanes are less prevalent ... and hard freezes have all but vanished?

I realize I probably shouldn’t be making this observation until the end of November, when hurricane season ends. I don’t want to jinx things. But regardless of us having none or twenty major storms this summer, the last five years have been hurricane-free.

Go figure.

HERALD SUBSCRIPTIONS INCREASING
The Herald is going up on its subscription prices. It’s not because we want to. We haven’t had a price increase since September, 2009! But the US Postal Service has increased its rates several times over during that span and we can no longer hold the line.

On July 1 our yearly subscription price for Gadsden County subscribers will increase from $25 to $27. That’s a little more than 6%. The most recent postal increase, by itself, was around 6%.

For readers outside Gadsden County, the price is increasing from $30.00 to $35.00 per year. This is a bigger percentage due to higher outside-county rates charged to us by the postal service.

We appreciate all our subscribers and hope you will continue to receive the Herald at your home mail box or post office box. Subscribing is the most convenient way to receive your newspaper. It comes to you instead of you having to go out and buy it at a newsstand.

We feel most of our subscribers will understand the need to increase our prices. What hasn’t increased ... right? We also want our subscribers to know that your support is the reason we try every week to put out a good community newspaper.